Hinokitiol

Hinokitol, an iron chelator originally extracted from woods of Thuja plicata and Chamaecyparis obtuse, has been found to inhibit ultraviolet B-induced apoptosis in keratinocytes of murine ear skin via antioxidant activity of metallothionein. Additionally, this compound has been found to also cause apoptotic cell death and cell cycle arrest of proliferating F9 cells via iron deprivation, resulting in an arrest at the G1-S interface or S phase. Antimicrobial activity has also been displayed by Hinokitiol through CPA (carboxypeptidase A) inhibition. Other studies have reported Hinokitiol to inhibit melanin synthesis by reducing protein levels of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) and of Tyrosinase, a rate limiting melanogenic enzyme. Hinokitiol is an inhibitor of 12-LO.